Easily opened and reclosed carton



March 1961 G. E. STRUBLE 2,974,853

EASILY OPENED AND RECLOSED CARTON Filed July 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .24 4/ a2 .55 48 2/ Z3 4 f 32 i 2 3i 1 E11 T Z5 3T T n u n u H II u u u u u 1. La la L4 :1 1

INVENTOR len/z 2. iruble BY Wan (J. was

ATTORNEY March 14, 1961 G. E. sTRUBLE 2,974,853

EASILY OPENED AND RECLOSED CARTON Filed July 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /e/m 6. Zmble BY Ham (J. was

ATTORNEY United States Patent 0 ine 2,974,853

EASILY OPENED AND RECLOSED CARTON Glenn E. Struble, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to Diamond National Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 22, 1959, Ser. No. 828,790

8 Claims. (Cl. 22951) The present invention relates to an easily opened and reclosed carton, and more particularly to such a carton in which an underlying top flap is folded back on itself along a line extending parallel to the carton sides and the folded back portion is glued to an overlying top flap, and to a carton in which simple cut-out slits and tongues are provided for reclosing thereof.

"Cartons made of paperboard, provided with a liner, and having side and end walls and sealed ends are widely known and used. Often these cartons simply have the top thereof closed by gluing one top flap onto another top flap; however, as an advancement over this type of carton, many workers in the art have sought to provide cartons that are readily opened, these attempts having been generated from the difliculty incurred in opening the carton having top flaps glued together. Thus, these workers have provided top flaps with various arrangements of perforations, so that tabs or similar portions could be broken from the top flap or flaps in order to permit egress of the contents of the carton. While these constructions have provided some improvements in cartons, they have presented certain disadvantages and deficiencies.

For example, in some of the prior art perforated top cartons, there was not provided any way to readily reclose the carton top. In others, the carton was not as easily opened as it might be, even though special opening structure was provided, such as the aforementioned perforated lines. Still other cartons of the prior art required special equipment for filling them, did not provide a full top panel, and thus restricted the ability of the carton to accept printing on the top surface, and still other cartons provided no reclosure device or expensive and complicated reclosure constructional featurm. In still other cartons, there was considerable danger of carton failure due to bad gluing and in some of the previously provided cartons there was danger of the top and back liner separating during the opening of the carton.

While the above discussed deficiencies of the prior art were scattered among the several cartons of the prior art, it will be realized that all of the prior art cartons were deficient in one or more of the above set forth respects.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sealed end carton that is readily openable.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a readily openable sealed end carton that may be easily reclosed.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a readily openable sealed end carton which may be filled on existing equipment.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a readily openable sealed end carton having a full top panel providing a continuous and full printing surface.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a readily openable sealed end carton having simple and inexpensive reclosure means.

Patented Mar. 14, 1961 Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a sealed end carton having an improved leverage system for opening thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a readily openable sealed end carton in which there is no liability of carton failure from bad gluing.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a readily openable sealed end carton in which there is no liability of the top and back liner separating.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank for making a carton in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of Fig. 1 as it may appear during the erecting of the carton.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carton made from the blank of Fig. l at a further stage of the assembly thereof.

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view, taken transversely of the carton, after it has been assembled, filled and closed.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing how the carton of the present invention is opened.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the carton of the present invention may be reclosed.

Referringnow to the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. 1 a blank 1% having a first tier of panels comprising end panels 11 and 13 and side panels 12 and 14 in alternate array. These several panels are foldably connected in the usual manner, and a glue flap 16 may be provided on the side panel 14.

A second tier of four bottom-forming panels 17, 18, 19 and 20 may be seen below the first tier of panels, with each of the panels of the second tier foldably connected to the bottom of a panel in the first tier.

Above the panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 is a tier of four top-forming flaps, there being provided a top end flap 21 above end panel 11, and foldably connected thereto, a second top end flap 23 similarly positioned and connected to end panel 13, a top side flap 22 foldably connected to the top of side panel 12 and a top side flap 24 foldably connected to side panel 14.

Flap 22 is of generally rectangular outline and has a fold line 32 extending thereacross generally parallel to the bottom 33 and the top 34 thereof. As may be seen, fold line 32 is substantially equidistant between the top 34 and bottom 33 of flap 22. Top side flap 22 also has a generally longitudinally extending slit 35 therein between fold line 32 and the top 34. Slit 35 is adjacent fold line 32, and may have oblique end extensions 36 and 37, as shown.

Top side flap 24 is characterized by being generally rectangular, departing therefrom by having an indentation 41 centrally thereof and extending into the upper margin 42 thereof. Tab 43 may be seen in flap 24, tab 43 being defined by a first slit 44 that extends parallel to the bottom 45 of flap 24 and which slit 44 is substantially equidistant between the top or upper margin 42 and the bottom 45. Two spaced parallel slits 46 and 47 extend from the ends of slit 44 toward the bottom 45, and lines of perforations 48 and 49 extend from the ends of slit 44, in alignment therewith, to the side margins of the flap 24.

Reference is had to Fig. 2, wherein it may be seen that glue has been applied to the glue flap 16, panel 18 and to the part of top side flap 22 above fold line 32.

Also; the blank'l'tt h'asbe'en' folded about the vertically extending fold lines connecting the panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 as well as the glue flap 16; Thus, with further folding of the blank 10 there will be obtained an overlapping of end panel'll'andglue'fiap 16, so as toformagenerally tubular formation. 7

The tubular formation is shown in Fig; 3, wherein there may be 'seen'the closing of the bottom of the carton by the infolding of the panels'17 and 19 and the subsequent infolding of the panels 18' and 20 and the gluing thereof. Afterthecarton has beenfilled, the top end flaps 21 and 23 are similarly infolded and then the topside flap 24 has the fi rst'part thereof, i.e. the part connected to side panel 14', infolded so that it extends towards the side l2. The second part' of flap 24 is folded on the slit 44 andthe line ofperforations 48, 49 so that it extends back in the opposite direction, and thus extends from its fold line thefi rst' part offlap 24 towards'the side'p'anel 14.

Referring now to Fig, 4, there may be seen the' complet'ed top'of'thecarton, and there may be clearly seen therein the opposite side panels 12'and 14'and the first part of'flap 24'which is connected with side panel '14 and extends toward side panel 12. There may also be seen the fold line formed by the lines 48, 49 and the slit 44, and the second part of flap 24 which extends from the fold line back towards-the side panel 14 and in overlying relationship to the first part of flap 24. The second part of flap 24 is adhesively secured, as by the glue shown, to the underside of the part of flap 22 that is adjacent the free edge 34 thereof, edge 34' having been the top of flap 22 in the blank 10.

From the configuration and arrangement of the parts in Fig. 4,- it-will be apparent that the carton is opened by separating the two parts of the flap 24 along the line of perforations 48, 49. This is accomplished easily in the present carton because of the leverage system presented by the flaps 22 and 24. Thus, a lever is presented by the flap 22, together with the second part of the flap 24, which-is glued to it. This lever is pivoted at the top of side panel 12, and force is applied thereto at the margin 34; The load is, of course, the material left in the line of perforations 48, 49, and thus there is provided an openingleverage system of good mechanical advantage.

Pig. shows the carton as it is being opened, with the second part' of flap 24 still adhesively secured to the part of flap 22 adjacent the margin 34 and with the lines of perforations 48, 49 having-been separated so as to divide the flap 24 into two parts. The opening action is usually andi-easilyaccomplished by a'serial tearing of the lines of perforations 48, 49 from one end thereof to the other. After the lines 48, 49 have been severed, it is only necessary tO-IOtfit'thd first part of fiap 24 and the flap 22 to open -th'ecarton to provide access to the interior thereof, with the usual outfolding, if desired, of the top end flaps 21 and123.

In Fig. 5 there may be seen the indentation 41 of the second part of flap 24 and the slits 35, 36 and 37 in the flap 22. There may also be seen the slits 46 and 47 which define the tab 43, and it will be understood that tab 43 is in general registry with the slits 35, 36 and 37.

To reclose the carton, it is only necessary to again infold the top end flaps 21 and 23, to then fold down the flap 22, as shown in Fig. 6, and to insert the tab 43 into the slit 35; this construction will enable the carton to be readily and easily closed and will provide a secure reclosing of the carton.

There has been provided a sealed end carton that is readily openable,.by an improved leverage system, and which carton may be easily reclosed. This carton, as will be understood, may be filled with existing carton-filling equipment and provides a full and continuous top panel which is highly desirable from the printing and advertising viewpoint. The reclosure construction of the present carm is made of simple and inexpensive slits. The carton f-thepresent invention wilLnot fail should bad gluing 4. occur and will not cause a separation of the top and back liner during opening.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and-described in the specification but only as indicatedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A readily opened and reclosable. sealedend" carton comprising a bottom, ends, sides and a top, said top comprising a first flap connected toonesideand extending substantially to the other side of the carton, asecond'fiap connected to said other side of said carton and having a first part extending toward said one s ide and a second part connected thereto by'a pair of spaced and aligned lines of perforations, said line of perforations extending substantially parallel to the carton sides, said second part being between the first part of said second flap and the part of said first flapiadjacent the free edge thereof, means adhesively securing said secondpart and said first flap, an indentation in the central region of the free'edge of said second part, a slit extending between and aligned with the said lines of perforations, a pair of slits in said first part of said second flap extending from the ends of said first mentioned slit towards said other side to thereby define a tab in said first part of said second flap, and a slit in said first flap in registry with the indentation in said second part of said second flap and the tab in said second flap.

2. A readily opened and reclosable sealed end carton comprising a bottom; ends, sides and a top, said top comprising a first flap connected to one side and extending substantially to the other side of the carton, a second fiap connected to said other side of said carton and'having a first part extending toward said one side and a second part connected thereto by a pair of spaced and aligned weakened lines, said weakened lines'extending substantially parallel to the carton sides, said second part being between the firstpart of said second flap and the part of said first flap adjacent the freeedge thereof, means securing said second part and said first flap, an indentation in the central region of the free edge of said second part, a slit extending between and aligned with the said weakened lines, a pair of slits in said first part of said second flap extending from the ends of saidfirst mentioned slit towards said other side to thereby define a tab in said first part of said second flap, and a slit in said first flap in registry with the indentation in said second part of said second flap and the tab in said second flap.

3. A readily opened and reclosable sealed end carton comprising a bottom, ends, sides and a top, said top comprising a first flap connected to one side and extending substantially to the other side of the carton, a second flap connected to said'other side of said carton and having a first part extending toward said one side and a second part connected thereto by a pair of spaced and aligned weakened lines, said weakened lines extending substantially parallel to the carton sides, said second part being between the first part of said second flap and the part of saidfirst flap adjacent the free edge thereof, me'ans securing said second part and said first flap, a slit extending between and aligned with the said weakened lines, a pair of slits in said first part of said second flap extending from the ends of said first mentioned slit towards said other side to thereby define a tab in said first part of said second flap, and a slit in said first flap in registry with the tab in said second flap, said first flap having a fold line extending thereacross and parallel to and overlying the weakened lines and slit of said second flap, the slit in said-first flap being disposed betweensaid fold line'aud the edge of said first fiap.

4. A blank for a carton comprising a first tier of two side panels and two end panels in alternate array and foldably connected, a'second tier offour bottomforming panels each foldably connected to the bottom of a panel in said first tier, and a tier of four top-forming flaps comprising two top end flaps and two top side flaps each foldably connected to the top of a panel of said first tier of panels, a first top side flap being of generally rectangular outline and having a fold line extending thereacross parallel to the bottom and top thereof and substantially equidistant therebetween, said first top panel having a generally longitudinally extending slot therein between the fold line therein and the top thereof and adjacent the fold line therein, the second top side flap departing from a generally rectangular outline by an indentation centrally in the upper margin thereof, said second top side flap further having a centrally located tab defined by a first slit parallel to the bottom thereof and substantially equidistant between the top and bottom thereof and two spaced parallel slits extending from the ends of said first slit toward the bottom of said second top side flap, and lines of perforations extending from the ends of said first slit to the side margins of said second top side flap and parallel to the bottom thereof.

5. A blank for a carton comprising a first tier of two side panels and two end panels in alternate array and foldably connected, a second tier of four bottom-forming panels each foldably connected to the bottom of a panel in said first tier, and a tier of four top-forming flaps comprising two top end flaps and two top side flaps each foldably connected to the top of a panel of said first tier of panels, a first top side flap being of generally rectangular outline and having a fold line extending thereacross parallel to the bottom and top thereof, said first top panel having a generally longitudinally extending slot therein between the fold line therein and the top thereof and adjacent the fold line therein, the second top side flap departing from a generally rectangular outline by an indentation centrally in the upper margin thereof, said second top side flap further having a centrally located tab defined by a first slit parallel to the bottom thereof and substantially equidistant between the top and bottom thereof and two spaced parallel slits extending from the ends of said first slit toward the bottom of said second top side flap, and lines of perforations extending from the ends of said first slit to the side margins of said second top side flap and parallel to the bottom thereof.

6. A blank for a carton comprising a first tier of two side panels and two end panels in alternate array and foldably connected, a second tier of four bottom-forming panels each foldably connected to the bottom of a panel in said first tier, and a tier of four top-forming flaps comprising two top end flaps and two top side flaps each foldably connected to the top of a panel of said first tier of panels, a first top side flap being of generally rectangular outline and having a fold line extending thereacross parallel to the bottom and top there of, said first top panel having a generally longitudinally extending slot therein between the fold line therein and the top thereof and adjacent the fold line therein, said second top side flap further having a centrally located tab defined by a first slit parallel to the bottom thereof and substantially equidistant between the top and bottom thereof and two spaced parallel slits extending from the ends of said first slit toward the bottom of said second top site flap, and lines of perforations in alignment with said fold line and extending from the ends of said first slit to the side margins of said second top side flap and parallel to the bottom thereof.

7. A blank for a carton comprising a first tier of two side panels and two end panels in alternate array and foldably connected, a second tier of four bottom-forming panels each foldably connected to the bottom of a panel in said first tier, and a tier of four top-forming flaps comprising two top end flaps and two top side flaps each foldably connected to the top of a panel of said first tier of panels, a first top side flap being of generally rectangular outline and having a fold line extending thereacross parallel to the bottom and top thereof, said first top panel having a generally longitudinally extending slot therein between the fold line therein and the top thereof and adjacent the fold line therein, said second top side flap further having a centrally located tab defined by a first slit parallel to the bottom thereof and substantially equidistant between the top and bottom thereof and two spaced parallel slits extending from the ends of said first slit toward the bottom of said second top side flap, and weakened lines in alignment with said fold line and extending from the ends of said first slit to the side margins of said second top side flap and parallel to the bottom thereof.

8. A blank for a carton comprising a first tier of two side panels and two end panels in alternate array and foldably connected, a second tier of four bottom-forming panels each foldably connected to the bottom of a panel in said first tier, and a tier of four top-forming flaps comprising two top end flaps and two top side flaps each foldably connected to the top of a panel of said first tier of panels, a first top side flap being of generally rectangular outline and having a fold line extending thereacross parallel to the bottom and top thereof, said first top panel having a generally longitudinally extending slot therein between the fold line therein and the top thereof, said second top side flap further having a centrally located tab defined by a first slit parallel to the bottom thereof and substantially equidistant between the top and bottom thereof and two spaced slits extending from the ends of said first slit toward the bottom of said second top side flap, and weakened lines in alignment with said fold line and extending from the ends of said first slit to the side margins of said second top side flap and parallel to the bottom thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,985,590 Weiss Dec. 25, 1934 

